McLean, Great Falls: Leading Voice Against Human Trafficking

Letter to the Editor

The horrors of human trafficking are an unfortunate reality for our community. Fortunately, we have a Congresswoman who is leading on this important issue. Barbara Comstock has fought against human trafficking since her time in the state legislature and will continue to do so as our representative in Congress.

About half of all of the human trafficking cases in Virginia occur in the Northern Virginia region. Hundreds of people fall victim to this horrible crime. It can no longer be left in the shadows.

Barbara Comstock has fought against human trafficking since her time in the state legislature. She’s consistently worked with other policymakers, local law enforcement and advocacy groups to raise awareness about human trafficking. She’s also worked to give law enforcement the tools they need to combat this vile crime. Thanks to her work, Virginia has become a leader in combatting human trafficking. Four years ago, Virginia was at the bottom of the Polaris Project’s Anti-Human Trafficking State Rankings. Virginia is now near the top.

In Congress, one of Comstock’s first speeches on the floor of Congress was on human trafficking. She joined the Human Trafficking Caucus and co-sponsored eight pieces of legislation on the issue. The cornerstone of that legislative package, The Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act of 2015, passed the House and Senate and was signed by the President.

As she always does, Comstock is working in a bipartisan fashion for the people of our community. As the mother of young children, a Girl Scout leader, and PTO leader, it means so much to me that she is fighting for the most vulnerable people in our society, raising awareness about a terrible crime, and offering real solutions.